JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY 
IN THE 
TIERRA CALIENTE:, 
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF A VISIT TO 
CUERNAVACA, THE RUINS OF XOCHICALCO, THE 
CAVERN OF CACAHUAWAMILPA, CUAUTLA 
DE AMILPAS, 
AND SEVERAL 
MEXICAN HACIENDAS OR PLANTATIONS. 
17th September, 1842. This is still the rainy season in the Valley 
of Mexico, and the clouds which have hung around the valley for some 
weeks past, pouring out their daily showers, seem to forbid our depar- 
ture upon an expedition which I have contemplated making before I 
leave Mexico ; but as the period of my departure is rapidly approaching, 
I find it necessary to embrace the opportunity presented by the protection 
of a party of gentlemen who design visiting, during the next two weeks, 
some of the most interesting portions of Tierra Caliente, south of the Val- 
ley of Mexico. It strikes me, too, that as the mountains which surround 
this valley are the highest in Mexico, it is more probable that the stormy 
clouds, driven up by the north winds from the sea, gather and are at- 
tracted by these heights, and consequently expend themselves over the 
nearest plains ; — the adjoining valleys which are lower than this, are 
likely, therefore, to be free from the continual deluge of water with which 
we have been visited for the last two months. 
Our preparations have accordingly all been made to set out to-day, 
about four o'clock. 
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